Another Great Trip

I just returned from another great trip to the Lancaster area. We stayed at the Revere Inn, as usual, and it was great as usual. The place was packed, they always are. The room was spotless as always, the 2 pools packed with kids. The breakfast was very good as usual. Exciting news is that we found out they are renovating the place this winter. We have always loved the place, but it%26#39;s time for an updo, and they told us it%26#39;s coming. We ate at our favorite places, Lapps, Dienners,the Kling house, and thanks to some of the other posters, I tried Issacs for lunch (I%26#39;m a vegetarian), and it was great finding veg. soup and sandwiches on the menu.We shopped till we dropped as we always do, and cried all the way home, so sad to be leaving. I have my orange cake from the Upper Crust Bakery to hold me off until my Thanksgiving trip. My only complaint was the traffic on 30, it was worse than usual, but I guess there were others who had the same idea as us, as to visiting the last few days.

Another Great Trip

Im glad you had another great trip. I know what you mean about the crying part, i always cry after all of my vacations. It always a great thing when your favorite hotel renovates.

We are going to Willow Valley in December and cant wait to see all the room renovations they did. Now if only Bird in Hand would do some updating.

Another Great Trip

So glad you had a great time mittmott! Hopefully in November you%26#39;ll get to try Culturas!

Thank you everyone. Now I%26#39;m going over all my shopping goodies, and trying to work off the weight gain.

Hotels in Pittsburgh hat allow smoking

Are all hotels in Pittsburg non-smoking?????????//

Hotels in Pittsburgh hat allow smoking

I believe they are, Pittsburgh has a pretty extensive smoking ban. I%26#39;m not sure it extends throughout the county, though. Perhaps try a hotel in the Greentree area.

Hotels in Pittsburgh hat allow smoking

All of Marriott has gone smoke-free everywhere; so take them off the list.

A statewide smoking ban goes into effect mid-September.

York over Labor Day Weekend

Staying at Heritage Hills (daughter is in a golf tournament). Lived in Lancaster, worked in Hershey for 10 years, so we have done those things. Anything to see or do or places to eat in the York vicinity?

York over Labor Day Weekend

In my opinion, York is not a real happening place. I would normally recommend you need to go to Harrisburg/Hershey or Lancaster for things to see and do but you%26#39;ve all ready covered those areas. The only other nearby place you might want to visit is Gettysburg or going south to Baltimore, MD.

I don%26#39;t know if this web site will help but you can check it out.

http://www.yorkpa.org/index.asp

As for places to eat, the Accomac Inn is recommended by many for very fine dining.

http://www.accomacinn.com/default.shtm

It%26#39;s been a while since I was there but the Roosevelt Tavern was good.

http://www.roosevelttavern.com/

Children's center in Brinton Lake/Concordville area?

I%26#39;m wondering if anyone from the Chester Co area is familiar with a place that is an activity center for children. I believe it is right in the Brinton Lake area, near the intersection of 322/Route 1/202. It doesn%26#39;t face Route 1, but I think is in the area behind the shopping center with the PF Changs etc. I remember reading about it about 2 years ago. It%26#39;s a place where you can take kids and they have all sorts of swings, activities, games geared just toward younger children. I thought I had saved the information, but cannot find it. I was thinking about taking my 7 year old niece there but wanted to get some more info on it.

I wasn%26#39;t able to find any info on the internet, so maybe it%26#39;s no longer open? Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Children's center in Brinton Lake/Concordville area?

trying to bump this message up. Anyone from the area familiar with this place? I would appreciate any information you might have.

Thanks.

Children's center in Brinton Lake/Concordville area?

Tramorer,

Been watching this hoping someone would know. The only thing I can think of was a kids%26#39; play center -- no longer remember the name -- in the Brandywine Town Center on Route 202, just north of Route 92 -- in Delaware, but within five minutes of Concordville. It has been closed way more than two years, though, so not sure if it%26#39;s what you%26#39;re thinking of.

Thank you Wythany for your response.

I don%26#39;t think the place you referenced is the one I was talking about. I am fairly certain the location was right in that area off of Route 1 between 311 and 202. I had saved it to %26#39;my favorites%26#39; , at least I thought I had, but it%26#39;s not on there. I have a feeling it may no longer be open and I have tried googling it any number of ways. I also found a bounce place in Westchester which is just too far to go since I am coming from NJ.

The place I was inquiring about looked like lots of fun and I have my 2 nieces for a few days and thought they might enjoy it. Boo hoo!

I did, however, find another places called Bette%26#39;s Family Fun Center in Aston. Are you familiar at all with this place?

http://www.bettesfuncenter.com/index.htm

Thanks again for your reply.

Tramorer,

Sorry, not familiar with Betty%26#39;s.

BUT -- I think found the one you were looking for!

http://www.oasisfamilyfun.com/

Wythany,

Thank you, that%26#39;s the place!! Not sure why every google method I tried to pull up info on it didn%26#39;t show up. Appreciate very much your reply!

Tramorer,

So glad I could help.

FYI, I went to Google Maps and entered ';family fun concordville pa.'; That brought it up (even tho the address is Glen Mills), along with one in Media -- right by Granite Run Mall -- for which I couldn%26#39;t find a website, so I didn%26#39;t mention it. But since you%26#39;re coming from NJ, it might be closer if you can find anything on it.

Hope you have a great time. And hope you%26#39;ll post a TR -- we, too, have young nieces and nephews who visit occasionally. (We%26#39;re near Longwood, so Oasis would be a perfect location.) FYI, Ruby%26#39;s Diner -- very retro -- in the Brinton Lake Center might be fun for lunch. Great milkshakes!

Philadelphia city from Newark (trains?)

What are our options in using trains from Newark to Philadelphia city center? How do we go about it? Do we also need to take a shuttle to the train station? Never tried to take the train before this route. We have done most train riding in Europe. We will be 2 adults and 1 eight year old child.

Also, we are choosing between staying at Embassy Suites, Loews or Holiday Inn. It%26#39;s our first time in Philadelphia and we want to get a lot of US History insight.

Thanks!

Philadelphia city from Newark (trains?)

If you are landing at Newark, you can take the AirTrain (or whatever they are calling it now) to Newark Station via New Jersey Transit. From there, you have a choice of taking NJT to Trenton, switching to Septa into the City, OR taking Amtrak direct into the City.

NJT/Septa is cheaper, but takes longer amd there is not a lot of luggage space. Amtrak is faster, nicer, direct, and more expensive. If budget allows, Amtrak would be my choice. From the Amtrak station at 30th street, just grab a cab to your hotel.

As far as hotels, if the historic aspect is your primary, I would stay at the Holiday Inn. It%26#39;s closest to that area for easy walking. The Embassy suites is more in the Museum area, and the Loews is in the Convention area (that said, none of them is a FAR walk).

Philadelphia city from Newark (trains?)

I agree on the travel, and if the budget allows, I would second amtrak as you will find it much nicer and faster.

If you do not plan on taking a cab a lot once you get into philly, I would suggest that you book at the holiday inn in the historic district (at 4th and arch I believe) as it will be closest to all the attractions and limit the walking that will need to be done with you 8 year old

Hope this helps

Restaurants Society Hill Area

I am coming to Philly for 5 days with my 11 and 12 year old. Stayin at Sheraton Society Hill. We need suiggestions for breakfasts, lunch and dinner. All suggestions are helpful and we don%26#39;t need purely ';kids'; places. Thanks a million Joan from Buffalo

Restaurants Society Hill Area

This list includes restaurants in Old City, Society Hill, and on South Street.

Breakfast - South Street Diner

Other meals - Core de Roma (Italian)

Ava (Italian)

South Street Souvlaki (Greek)

Philadelphia Fish %26amp; Co

Ariana (Afghan)

Karma (Indian)

The Plough and the Stars (Modern Irish with live folk music Sunday evenings)

Amada (Spanish; awesome tapas; tough to get into on weekend evenings)

A bit farther away is a must: The Reading Terminal Market. see readingterminalmarket.org for more info.

Have fun!

Lynn

Restaurants Society Hill Area

Lynn%26#39;s list is very good - I%26#39;ll add a couple more in the general vicinity:

Mexican Post - Mexican - I know I%26#39;ve raved before, but I can%26#39;t get enough of their shrimp fajitas!

Bistro Romano - Italian - I like their tableside caesar and linguine and clams; my daughter loves their regular ravioli and my husband is partial to their lobster ravioli

Continental - world tapas - good for brunch, lunch and dinner

Society Hill Hotel - casual, inexpensive place for good burgers and sandwiches

Euglogy - Belgium - good mussels and frites

Standard Tap in Northern Liberties - I%26#39;ve walked it quite a few times from Old City, but it%26#39;s worth the $5 cab ride - the best gastropub known to man or woman (just a humble opinion) - the mussels and sausage is not to be believed, any fish of the day is always excellent at a bargain price, duck salad is also great as are the burgers. Great local beer selection as well if you%26#39;d like to indulge in an adult beverage - the rooftop deck while the sun is setting on the city is a great location in the nice weather

South Street Diner is my preferred place for breakfast in the vicnity, especially with kids. Another good place to check out for breakfast are one of the various Marathon Grill locations in the city. And, if you want to venture out into Bella Vista, check out Morning Glory on S 10th Street, the food is all homemade and excellent - great breakfast place. Just get there early.

Lynn is right, do check out the Reading Terminal Market for either breakfast or lunch one day. Go when the Amish stands are open if you can and eat breakfast at the Dutch Eating Place - the blueberry pancakes are not to be believed for a mere $3 and change...awesome fresh squeezed oj as well...the RTM website will have all the info...just steer clear of the Down Home Diner, which I find to be a tourist trap with mediocre food and dirty utensils.

If you want to go to South Philly for red gravy Italian, go to Villa di Roma, right in the heart of the Italian Market. It%26#39;s not fancy and all the waitresses will call you ';hon'; - but the food is very good and the kids will like it for sure.

Hope that begins to help, have fun in Philly!

Suzanne

Hey, kids places are fun too. Although not within walking distance, Dave and Buster%26#39;s is nearby and it offers lunch and dinner. During the week, you can get a $20 game card and a meal for less than $30 per person.

On Society Hill the best place in the area is Zahav is it amazing with great ambiance and just across the street from the Sheraton..

and I second Karma and Eulogy!

Zahav

Karma

Eulogy

For a splurge dinner, go to Buddakan (modern Asian food) on Chestnut St between 3rd and 4th (reservations needed)

You can make reservations for many Philadelphia restaurabnts using opentable.com

Dave and busters would be walkable from the Sheraton and might be a good change of pace for you and the kids as Dave and busters is basically a big restaurant/bar/arcade which can make for a lot of fun for both you and the kids

Another good option for lunch or dinner would be race street cafe located at 2nd and Race, this is also a gastropub, one in which I would put up against standard tap any time and you would we able to walk here. Also there brunch is worth checking out served on saturday and sunday from 11 to 3, maybe a little earlier, but I know it available as of 11am.

all of the other suggestions have been good, we can help you narrow down things a little more if you give us a budget for meals as many of the places listed can become quite pricey.

Hope this helps

Philly is a great town for all types of dining: cheap eats to upscale and countless cuisines. With all the great food options I can%26#39;t see going to Dave and Busters for mediocre food unless your priority is playing arcade games.

Lynn

If your kids like arcade games, Dave and Busters would be a fun activity for lunch or dinner on one of your 5 days here in Philly. Of course, you would not be going there for the great food, but for the fun, so I would keep that as a possibility. My kids have always had a good time there.

I don%26#39;t think anyone recommended Chinatown yet, that is always a good option for family dining, and walking around Chinatown and browsing in the shops can be a fun activity, especially if you might be interested in buying fake designer bags and sunglasses! I recommend Sang Kee Peking Duck and Vietnam, but there are many other great restaurants there.

I%26#39;m almost positive that children don%26#39;t mind having a day dedicated to them just to have fun with the family and play games. I%26#39;ve dined at D%26amp;B several times and have never felt like their dishes mediocre in any way. Of course, there%26#39;s much nicer venues to eat in Philly but then again, nobody would expect the same level of service nor elaboration at D%26amp;B. Providing a fun time is their priority after all. Having a restaurant inside the property is just a plus.

pimple cure

Holiday Anniversary Ideas?

My husband and I will be celebrating our first anniversary the week after Christmas. We were married in Hershey, PA (where we%26#39;re from) and are looking for a lodge similar to the Hershey Lodge as far as ambience and holiday charm. We would also like to ski, sled, ice skate, etc... a good mix of relaxation with outdoor adventure. We would prefer to drive, so we%26#39;re looking for a location within driving distance (no more than 6 hours). Does anyone have any suggestions for a romantic lodge in the Northeast? Any help would be appreciated!

Holiday Anniversary Ideas?

Never stayed there but how about Eagles Mere Inn, about 2 hours away. Check out web site. Just a thought.

Holiday Anniversary Ideas?

Caanan Valley in Davis, WV.....what a great place...my husband %26amp; I stayed at Deerfield Village in Davis, WV.up in the mountains, plenty of places to visit. we rented a whole house..... just beautiful /actually called a villa .......you have it all to yourselves, 2 bedroom , 2 baths, back porch with grill, washer%26amp; dryer, dishwasher, just everything included. Peaceful and quiet. Blackwater falls,Dolly Sods * lookover the mts. at 4400 ft. Just wonderful.

Casa Buona

My husband and I are coming from NYC and staying at Casa Buona B%26amp;B in the city center. Does anyone know anything about it? I couldnt find any reviews? Thanks in advance!

Casa Buona

Oddly enough, I could not even google it? Do you have an address and number? If so, when in the city I can take a quick peek for you

Casa Buona

Casa Buona is located pretty close to the Italian Market %26amp; South Street. I personally do not know anyone that has stayed here ~ however, the house looks very pretty from the outside.

Please share your feedback after your stay.

Honestly, I%26#39;m curious as to how you found the place? Its not even in the phone book :) - Please note, not saying its bad, just doesn%26#39;t advertise much.

Please note that if it is near the italian market, its not really in city center, but not far away (it would be a Loooong walk).

I have never heard of this either! Would love to know about your stay. See, I still learn something new about Philly every day!

Suzanne

I have booked for the same place in October. Any feedback would be great.

Maybe they should rename this place the Twilight Zone or Bermuda Triangle. It%26#39;s not listed in the phone book, nor on bedandbreakfast.com and I tried googling it without success too.

So how are people finding this place? The question was asked before but never answered.

The mystery of Casa Buona is solved, see bnbphiladelphia.com, although that website does not list the address.

did you stay at casa bouna? i found your post on Philadelphia Forum. If you did would you please share any info you have about the place, please. I am booked there for next month.

thanks- pam

we did! wow, this was awhile back, so i had to google to make sure. we stayed in a room in the back. the owner was nice, but a tad disorganized. it%26#39;s in the south street area i believe and we had the BEST meal ever at Beau Monde--they have a really cool bar upstairs and amazing sweet and savory crepes downstairs. i would take the bus there for this place. back to the inn...our room was just fine, nothing to book for your honeymoon, but very comfortable with a nice little table and clean too. very old fashioned-ish and colorful at the same time. we met and hung out with some local people who said that the area bordered a rough area so to be careful when wandering around at night (not something that i%26#39;m really used to in manhattan...i live in abc city or east village). the b%26amp;b and the area did seem really cute to me and i really enjoyed all of the places that we wantered. we never even used public transportation and went all over the city, as we%26#39;re pretty used to walking. the museum was cool, reading terminal, lots of eating, close to the italian market too.

hope this helps! let me know if you have more questions!

worth the trip?

My husband, two daughters (8 and 5) and I are coming to Pennsylvania for a trip from Idaho. We will be staying near Philadelphia. I was wondering if its worth the hour + drive to Hershey to see the Chocolate World and Trolley Tour. I know that the park will be closed (November)so I am not sure if the visit would be worthwhile.

Thanks for your input.

worth the trip?

When in November are you coming to Phila? Hersheypark Christmas Candylane and Sweet Lights Display are open on weekends beginning November 14th, so while Hersheypark won%26#39;t be open in all of it%26#39;s glory, it may be partially open.

Chocolate World is fun and has alot more to offer than it used to even five years ago. (You do know that you are not actually in the plant...the chocolate making tour is a ride that recreates how chocolate is made.) In addition to the ride, there is the trolley tour that you mentioned (which is very fun) and the 3D Show which my kids still love after having seen it too many times to count. There is also the Factory Works Line, which kids do seem to enjoy but I couldn%26#39;t tell you why. Santa is at Chocolate World during the holiday season as well.

But is it worth the trip? As much as it pains me to say it, I%26#39;m not sure. How long will you be in town? What is the purpose of the visit? Will coming to Hershey take away from visiting more significant sites in Phila? Is the trip to Hershey a gift to little girls on a long trip?

The answers to those questions will be the answer to whether or not coming to Hershey is worth the trip.

I really love this town and what it has to offer but I would recommend taking a little bit of time and checking out what is open and what your kids will enjoy. Basically, is it worth two extra hours in the car to two little girls?

I%26#39;d be happy to let you know more about other things to do in and around the area if you decide to come. I%26#39;d recommend taking a look at Hersheypa.com

Good luck and let me know if you%26#39;d like any more info!

worth the trip?

If you do not visit this part of the country often, then I would say it is worth the trip to Hershey since you will be so close. As the previous poster mentioned, depending upon when in November you will be here, HersheyPark%26#39;s Christmas Candylane opens on November 14. Your girls would certainly enjoy that. Chocolate World and the Trolley Tour will also give you a good overview of the area. Zoo America and the Hershey Museum are open year round. You will find plenty to do to fill your day! I hope you enjoy your visit.

hersheypa.com/events/…index.php

http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/

hersheypa.com/attractions/…index.php

http://www.hersheymuseum.org/

I just wanted to update a piece of information...

the Hershey Museum closes at its present location on September 2nd and will reopen at the new location on Chocolate Avenue in January 2009. There will be no museum to visit in the interim.

if you can plan your visit during the candylane period and you celebrate christmas, it will be well worth a visit. Small children will love it most, but it is still very festive for adults as well. I always recommend staying at the hershey lodge to get the most of the holiday experience. Reviews are iffy, but we have had only good experiences during the christmas holiday. if candylane wasn%26#39;t happening during your stay, it still might be worth the drive. It depends what else you may giving up......

Philadelphia

Two adults and one 7 year old are planning a 3 day trip to Pennsylvania landing in Philadelphia. Renting a car in Philadelphia will there be enough time for an quick overview to see the Liberty Bell etc. and then on to see Amish country? Maybe take in a quick Hershey tour and spend 2nd night somewhere in that area? I mapped out a rough map and it comes to something like a 250 mile round trip. Since we%26#39;ve never been there is this too ambitious? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated for scenic and/or interesting routes, must-sees, restaurants, hotels etc. and just how much we can we expect to take in.

Philadelphia

There is a lot more to see in Philadelphia than The Liberty Bell. Most visitors spend 2 or 3 days in Philadelphia itself, and do not need a car at all. IMO, the Amish country isn%26#39;t worth the trip. It%26#39;s pretty, but it%26#39;s really just farmland. I think your 7 yo would be bored for sure. Hershey, of course has the amusement park, but you can go to any amusement park for the same experience.

What are your interests and what do you hope to get out of the trip?

Philadelphia

We wanted to get some of the historical interests of the beginning of the America, Libery Bell and if there is something else that might be of interest in the historical way also that%26#39;s why I thought it would be good to see the Amish country and the simpler life, Philly Cheesteaks...kind of getting a general idea of what PA and Philadelphia are. We thought just a general overview. Is the Hershey tour worth seeing just to say we went there. I would not want to do the amusement park since we would be so limited on time but maybe just the tour. What do you suggest?

Where are you coming from? Are you really going to want to get off a plane (as it sounds like you%26#39;re doing) and then get into a car and drive around for several hours after just one day? It%26#39;s really up to you and your personal tastes, but I would say just enjoy what Philly has to offer. There%26#39;s the Natural History Museum, the Franklin Institute, the Camden Aquarium, Reading Terminal Market, the zoo, Fireman%26#39;s Hall Museum, plenty of playgrounds, etc. Lots for a 7 year old to enjoy.

The Hershey tour is not a factory tour (it was years ago)- and is not worth the trip now. As mentioned earlier, the Amish area is just rolling farmland with barns that have hex signs. It gets boring very quickly, especially for a 7 year old. There is so much to do In Philadelphia, I think your time would be better spent in the city.

Wow, you both have been so informative and I think we will give up on the road trip to the Amish country. We will be coming from Arizona and wanted to see some of the fall colors as well as the countryside that we don%26#39;t have in the desert. We also want to experience the ';best'; philly cheesesteak we can as well as other ';flavors'; of Philadelphia as well as finding a nice place to stay that won%26#39;t break the bank. Work for an airline so flying in and flying out. Trying to see as much as we can without being overwelmed by it all.

Okay! Fall foliage is usually best around the end of October/beginning of November, but it really does vary depending on the weather.

Where to stay... Suzanne or Lynn will be able to guide you through the Hotwire/etc maze as far as choosing a hotel goes.

';Best'; cheesesteak has pretty much been narrowed down to either Jim%26#39;s, at 4th %26amp; South, or Campo%26#39;s, at 2nd %26amp; Chestnut. Forget the famous pair of Pat%26#39;s and Geno%26#39;s. The experience is interesting, but the food is not very good. Tony Luke%26#39;s is also pretty good, but you need a car to get there.

I have to run out right now, but others will advise as to how to fill your days most efficiently.

I have to agree with others that you should spend your time in Philadelphia. There is an enourmous amount to see and do here. I will now consult with my seven year old for her recommendations:

Franklin Institute

Academy of Natural Sciences

Imperial Inn in Chinatown for dim sum

Reading Terminal Market

Franklin Court

Betsy Ross House

Fireman%26#39;s Hall

Philadelphia City Hall (open weekdays)

Franklin Square (mini golf, carousel, playground)

She also says you should just walk around Center City because it%26#39;s nice to look at all the different buildings from different times, and you might find something you want to go into.

That%26#39;s a start! Wait, she says ride the Duck.

Lynn

Just in case you are puzzling over riding ';the duck';, here is the link: www.phillyducks.com.

This sounds perfect, especially the ';Duck.'; Did you stay in the area? We%26#39;re also looking for accommodations for two nights...any suggestions? Thanks,

Three days doesn%26#39;t allow a lot of time for driving excursions outside the city but some close destinations you could consider are (1) valley forge park (2) brandywine river area or (3) new hope area.

Valley Forge National Park would be the one I%26#39;d recommend. It has a very informative visitors center and you can walk around and see the replicas of the cabins that were used by Revolutionary War troops. Sometimes there are costumed interpreters there as well.

http://www.nps.gov/vafo/

Public transportation in Philadelphia

We are a family of four traveling from NYC this weekend. We are used to taking public transportation and would prefer to do this in Philly during our visit. Where can I get maps of the various systems (is it bus, train, trolley?)? And do I use trains or buses for most sites? We will be staying at the Sofitel in Rittenhouse Square and would like to visit Fort Mifflin, Franklin Institute, Zoo, Fairmount Waterworks, Penn Museum of Archaeology %26amp; Anthropology--so not really the traditional historic places. THANK YOU!

Public transportation in Philadelphia

http://www.septa.org/

the above link will take you to the SEPTA site which gives you information on the bus and subway routes. it is probably best to take bus #21 west on Walnut St to get to the Penn Museum and bus #38 to the zoo. There is also a zoo shuttle that stops at 30th St which is near the Penn Museum. see here for information 鈥hiladelphiazoo.org/getdoc/9d401b62-eb77-48鈥?/a>

also here is a link to the Phlash tourist bus that runs in a loop that hits a number of the spots on your list: Franklin Institute %26amp; Waterworks. You could actually walk there too.

I don%26#39;t know if you can get to Fort Mifflin with public transportation. You may want to call them.

Public transportation in Philadelphia

gophila.com/assets/鈥hlash-map-2008.pdf

link to Phlash map

we once used the subway system in philly during off business hours and it was weird...eery..freaky...we were the only ones down there (traveled far underground) and saw no one!!! We are Long Islanders, but my husband works in the city so we are very used to the NYC subway system and this was strange. I love Philly!!!!! We have been there before kids and loved it and continue with kids...just found different places....I guess what I am saying is do NOT expect the NYC subway in Philly...It is much smaller so either walk or take cabs. If you do have a car do not hesitate to use it. Driving in Philly will be very easy since you are used to an urban environment.

George W. Childs Recreation Site-Dingman's Ferry

Hello! I am looking to see if anyone can tell me about the trail difficulty here. I would like to visit in September, but if it has nearly the amount to steep steps as Bushkill, I am going to pass as I did not fair so well! Thanks in advance!

George W. Childs Recreation Site-Dingman's Ferry

I%26#39;m close to 80, didn%26#39;t find it too difficult last week. There are rocks and roots where there is no boardwalk, so you must watch where you put your feet.

George W. Childs Recreation Site-Dingman's Ferry

Wow! havent heard of this place since I was there in the late 80%26#39;s with my then boyfriend (now husband) and his family ( i was only about 15 or so). the waterfall was beautiful. thanks for the memory...have a great time!!!!

We even carved our names in a tree...I know not very green of us...but who knew what we would turn into!!!

pimple cure

winter getaway

I%26#39;m looking for an inexpensive hotel to stay close to some winter activities (specifically snow tubing). Chateau Resort seemed perfect (rooms under $100, close to camelback mountain, etc.) but a lot of reviews say it%26#39;s dirty, and I also heard they were cited for food safety violations. Does anyone know if these problems have been taken care of, or does anyone have any suggestions for basically a cleaner version of it?

winter getaway

The only other hotel near that area is the Hampton Inn in Stroudsburg which i know got good reviews. Last year we stayed in Scranton at Montage Mountain and stayed at the Hampton at Montage. It was great. The hotel overlooked the mountain and it was about a 2 mile drive to skiing %26amp; tubing. They also had a nice restaurant across from the hotel and a bunch of shopping down the road with additional restaurants. We were so glad that we tried something different. Also the pool was a nice size and had big windows which overlooked the ski mountain. If you search the web for that hotel they have pictures, its a nice area to stay in.

Girls Weekend Away

My girlfriends and I are visiting Philadelphia for the weekend..just to get away, relax and have girl time. We do, however, want to go dancing on Saturday night, have drinks and mix and mingle on the singles scene. We are looking for a nightclub that has a diverse crowd that plays R%26amp;B, Hip Hop, Top 40...or a nice lounge that plays music and serves great drinks. We are not yet sure of the area of the city where we want to stay, however, we prefer hotels that have ';modernized'; or newly renovated accommodations. We also may want to drive to Atlantic City on Sunday or scoot over to King of Prussia Mall. So, as you can see, we don%26#39;t have plans set in stone, but would appreciate some advice on our options. Thanks!

Girls Weekend Away

You may wish to stay in Old City. The Sheraton Society Hill is within walking distance to the bars/restaurants. Very nice, hip area. The crowds at the bars are mostly in their mid-20s and 30s.

One particular fun and trendy bar/restaurant is Dolce (connected to Paradigm). Fun times, nice crowds, good music. People usually dance in small spots. Their martinis are to die for.

The best clubs are in Atlantic City.

Have fun!!!

Girls Weekend Away

I second going out in the old city area, there are many choices there for both hotels and bars/clubs.

If you give us more of a budget we can point you in the right direction regarding hotels. If budget is not an issue, look in to the omni

As for clubs/bars I would suggest club 27, cebu and dolce for the dance seens, as for the lounges look into red sky, postiano coast, amada, mint, and possible even glam

and then for good drinks look at the contenntial

this site may be useful in you search, www.oldcitydistrict.org

but if you would like more info on old city, PM me

Hope this helps

Realtively new to the area %26amp; I%26#39;ve only been to Old City a few times. Just strolled around and only found normal/average, but nice places. I did see some interesting %26#39;hip%26#39; looking places on TV and those may be the places/lounges Mikepa mentioned.

QUESTION: How %26#39;miami%26#39; are the hip places? That is, can a couple of 35-year-old guys with receeding hairlines simply pay, enter, %26amp; enjoy?

I can not speak on maimi itself as I have not been, but as long as you are dressed nicely you really should not have a problem getting into most places in philadelphia

Some of the larger places in center city may be more of an issue, but dressing the part is generally enough in this city

but I also can not speak from experience as for the age bracket as I am in my mid 20%26#39;s

Hope this helps a little

If you name some of the specific places you saw on TV, I may be able to to provide more info on them

I agree with Mike. Although Miami can be a little more flexible, as long as you are dressed nicely most bars/clubs in Philly won%26#39;t give you a hard time at the door. AC is more strict (long lines, strict dress codes, etc). The crowds at the clubs are usually in their 20s and early 30s.

Like Mike said, dressing the part is generally enough in Philly.

Electric Factory Neighborhood/Public Transportation

Hi Philadelphia people,

I am planning to come down to Philadelphia for a concert at the Electric Factory on a Saturday night in the winter, and it will probably go pretty late. I%26#39;m from NYC so I am used to using public transportation, but it doesn%26#39;t seem like there is anything too convenient to the Electric Factory (and trains stop around midnight/12:30?). The Google streetview pictures made the area look pretty sketchy between the venue and, for example, the Chinatown stop. I saw in another post that someone recommended taking a cab (calling 215-333-3333).

-Are there any easy public transportation options in that area around the Electric Factory at midnight or a little later?

-What%26#39;s the deal with cabs in Philadelphia? If I call that number, will one actually come? Do cabs show up at the venue at the end of the show in general? Is there a fight to get a cab, or are there enough around?

Thanks in advance for advice! I%26#39;m considering staying at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel so that%26#39;s the area I%26#39;d need to get to after the show. Recommendations for other hotels in the area in that price bracket (%26lt;$150/night) are also welcome!

Electric Factory Neighborhood/Public Transportation

Yeah, the EF is not in the BEST area, and public transit at that time of nite is going to be sktechy. As long as the show is of any significant size, there will be cabs nearby after the show.

If you call that number, yes, you will generally get a cab within 15-20 minutes unless there is something else major letting out at the same time. I wouldn%26#39;t have too many concerns hanging out at the venue until one gets there, more likely someone will possibly steal the cab you call... It%26#39;s some of the streets in-between that can be a little sketchy.

Electric Factory Neighborhood/Public Transportation

Catching a cab should be easy after the show, just walk a half block down to callowhill and you will see them.

Also I would not be to worried about the area, I walk to the Electric factory all the time from my condo in old city. Just use common sense (ie don%26#39;t wander down and dark alleys, etc) and you will be fine.

Hope this helps, PM me if you have more questions

Thanks for the cab information, and the tip to try Callowhill for cabs. One more question...what do you generally tell people about the safety of the Greyhound bus terminal, particularly late at night? There is a Greyhound bus that departs at 2am the morning after the concert, and it would have the advantage that I would not need to get a hotel room. As I said, I am from NYC so I am not fazed by panhandlers and similar characters hanging around in general, but I%26#39;m not crazy enough to go somewhere unsafe. If there is a bus scheduled to depart from the terminal at 2am on a Sunday, there must be some people around...but would the environment be extremely questionable waiting for the bus between 1am-2am, or just unsavory/unpleasant? All the commentary I%26#39;ve been able to dig up on the web suggests that the terminal is crowded and chaotic during the day, with interesting people trying to sell you jewelry in the bathrooms, but no mention of the situation on weekend nights. If I had to guess, though, I%26#39;d guess ';not good.';

I wouldn%26#39;t say its unsafe in the terminal area itself, but it won%26#39;t be pleasant.. Probably not the best co-riders either. Still, since you are from NYC, I won%26#39;t advise against it, you will have some idea of what to expect...

Thanks so much for the replies. Looking forward to visiting!

College Tour Activities & Places to Stay

In July we will go on a college tour and include Haverford and Villanova in the Philadelphia area. Do you have any suggestions on where to stay? Are there any unique hotels, inns or B%26amp;Bs? I estimate that we will arrive around 5 - 6pm in the afternoon. We will probably have enough energy to see or do something that evening. Any suggestions? Husband, wife %26amp; 16 year old. We spent a long weekend seeing sights in Philadelphia a few years ago. I don%26#39;t remember doing much at night. Other than being large, is there anything special about the mall to the north?

Advice much appreciated!

College Tour Activities %26amp; Places to Stay

For hotel I suggest the Wayne Hotel see http://www.waynehotel.com/ They also have a great restaurant.

I assume you are referring to the King of Prussia Mall. It%26#39;s very nice as malls go, there is a Neiman Marcus and Norstrom there. Check it out at http://www.kingofprussiamall.com/

There is a movie theater in Wayne and some cute shops not sure how late they are open. The main drag is Rt. 30 (Lancaster Ave). Drive east from Wayne to check out other areas like Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Ardmore that have shops and restaurants and will give you a feel for the area, also another movie theater in Bryn Mawr that shows art house flicks. http://www.brynmawrfilm.org/ Ardmore also has a nice shopping area that is North of Rt. 30 called Suburban Square, it includes an Urban Outfitters store that your teen would probably enjoy browsing in.

Milkboy coffehouse could be worth a visit for some entertainment depending on what%26#39;s happening there. http://www.milkboycoffee.com/

College Tour Activities %26amp; Places to Stay

Wayne Hotel is probably the most unique in the vicinity and I believe they have recently updated some things that were lacking, so it is probably your best choice. Definitely better than the Radnor Hotel. If you go closer to the King of Prussia Mall, you will find chain hotels - Sheraton, Radisson and the like. The attached restaurant to the Wayne Hotel, Taquet, is absolutely excellent French cuisine, but very expensive. I used to eat lunch there frequently for work and for just 2 of us, we never got out for under $100 and it was usually more than that. They do have a bar which, I believe, serves less expensive bistro fare. Just a FYI.

Wayne is a charming little town with nice restaurants if you decide not to splurge on Taquet. Christopher%26#39;s is good for casual fare and Teresa%26#39;s has very good Italian. Both are on North Wayne Avenue, about a block from the hotel.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Suzanne

In Radnor is Margaret Kuo%26#39;s. Admittedly its been quite a while since I have been there, but the food used to be excellent and not too expensive.

You%26#39;ll be far enough outside the city that I wouldn%26#39;t worry about going in.

Thanks for the suggestions! I will look into staying at the Wayne. Some of the reviews are not too kind. Did they do a major remodel recently? Are there any places nearby with a great philly cheesesteak or other foods more unique to the area or just unique?

Good food but nothing really unique. The area caters mostly to upscale businesspersons and college students..

Regarding cheesesteaks you could check out Garrett Hill Pizza which was in recent years named best cheesteak in the suburbs by Philadelphia magazine; I have not eaten there myself. I like cheesesteaks, pretty much whereever they are sold.

http://www.ghpizza.com/

regarding something unique, there is Peace a Pizza a gourmet pizza shop (local chain) with a location in Rosemont that also has a Hope%26#39;s (cookies and ice cream). This is the kind of place where you could get a cheesesteak pizza. http://www.peacepizza.com/

There are several nice BYOBs in Bryn Mawr, I like Sola in particular, this would be for a nice night out. Yangming in Bryn Mawr is a really good asian/chinese place. These would be expensive.

Regarding your concerns about the Wayne Hotel, if you prefer a unique property that has some charm then that is the way to go. I don%26#39;t know how much it matters to you whether the pillows are soft as mentioned by the prior unfavorable reviews. I noticed the recent reviews seemed more favorable so maybe they changed the pillows!

The Wayne Hotel is in a good location for your visit and also being right in the center of Wayne you can walk to restaurants, shopping and movies.

Thank you for all your suggestions! I made a reservation at the Wayne. They changed the bedding last year, and are expecting in a shipment today to change all the linens including new pillows. I%26#39;m copying all your restaurant suggestions and bringing them along. We should have a pleasant late afternoon/evening exploring Wayne. I guess it%26#39;s considered the Mainline?

absolutely, very Main Line!

Have fun and have a great college tour. Another place worth considering for dinner is 333 Belrose in Radnor - only about 5 minutes by car at most. Contemporary American cuisine. One of my favorite Main Line restaurants. Not cheap, but not as pricey as Taquet at the Wayne Hotel, either. Good place for lunch as well.

Suzanne

Log Cabin Restaurant closing....

This place has been a treasured ';special occasion'; restaurant for generations of Lancaster countians %26amp; will be sorely missed...I am somewhat shocked they are closing but maybe it has nothing to do with business being off...anyone know the full story?

Log Cabin Restaurant closing....

I only ';know'; the gossip I%26#39;ve heard locally.

1) The road most people use getting to/from the restaurant has been closed for repair/replacement. Not sure when they closed it, it%26#39;s been a while, and won%26#39;t likely reopen soon. So undoubtedly it%26#39;s hurt business.... whether it hurt it enough to put them out of business, I don%26#39;t know.

2) The owner was looking to retire, and nobody in the family wanted to take over running the place, so they are shutting it down.

To my knowledge, the place has not been listed for sale (which seems a little odd but who knows), so it%26#39;s quite possible that there is more to the story that what I%26#39;ve heard.

Log Cabin Restaurant closing....

Here%26#39;s the article from July, from Lancaster Online:

articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/224078

By P.J. REILLY, Staff

A Lancaster County landmark is closing.

After serving meals to diners for the past 75 years, The Log Cabin restaurant on LeHoy Forest Drive in Warwick Township will close its doors either Tuesday or Wednesday, operations manager Rob Smith confirmed Sunday.

';Charlie recently turned 80 years old, and he%26#39;s had the restaurant for 50 years,'; Smith said of Log Cabin owner Charles DiSantis. ';He wants to spend time with his family, and he decided the only way he can truly do that is to retire completely.

';And that means closing the restaurant.';

Smith said DiSantis announced his plans suddenly July 3 — the same day the covered bridge that carries Log Cabin Road over Cocalico Creek on the line separating West Earl and Warwick townships was closed.

';The bridge closing was the straw that broke the camel%26#39;s back,'; Smith said. ';Ninety percent of our business comes over that bridge, and we didn%26#39;t want to carry the loss until it reopened.';

Thanks for posting the info.

I don%26#39;t blame Charlie for wanting to retire but I don%26#39;t get why he can only do that by closing the place.

I can%26#39;t imagine there would not be interest in buying or leasing a restaurant with such a long %26amp; successful history, not to mention a very distinguished reputation.

Can%26#39;t quite buy the bridge story either...a setback for sure but that%26#39;s not the only way to get there.

I doubt that there are many locals who would have cancelled their reservations just because that bridge was closed.

You%26#39;d be surprised how a bridge closing can affect business. Mill Creek bridge on Strasburg Pike was closed from 06-07, and the Old Mill House Shoppes definitely saw business fall off.

It%26#39;s happening to Reflections now, too - the Oregon Road bridge has been closed all summer. People with reservations will still show up, but the impromptu/quick diner crowd - especially the %26#39;working lunch%26#39; business- will go somewhere more convenient.

It would be hard to sell it for top dollar right now.

...not arguing with you, I know it can be traumatic to a business when nearby roads close, but I think this only illustrates how anal people can be (as in not wanting to alter from their ';regular'; route).

Reflections is a case in point:

For anyone coming up 272N from Lancaster, it%26#39;s actually more direct to turn left at the north end of Oregon Dairy. And this is only a little further for anyone coming from the north (or they can take back roads).

I think anyone interested in operating the Log Cabin would recognize that the bridge will eventually reopen. I really hope someone will keep it alive.

Dining Suggestions for picky 3 1/2 year olds

My family and I will be in Lancaster staying at the Best Western Revere beginning on 8/18. I am looking for places to eat that are not Pizza Hut or Domino%26#39;s. One of my 3 1/2 year old sons is extremely picky and his food choices are fruit, pizza, soft pretzels, banana pancakes (but i think he will eat regular pancakes) and waffles, depending on his mood.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me? I thought maybe the Bird In Hand Family Restaurant Buffet would be good b/c they have pizza and my other son basically eats the other things on the buffet. Then I saw the reviews on Trip Advisor and am having second thoughts. During our visit last year we ate a pizza hut, a pizzeria near the Strasberg RR, a pizzeria/italian restaurant down the road from our hotel and Cracker Barrel. I just want something different.

Thanks!!!

Dining Suggestions for picky 3 1/2 year olds

If it helps, not that it%26#39;s fine dining, but there is a friendly%26#39;s on Rt. 30 also. Lapps is also very good, and they are like going to a diner, but with amish style and american food. Another (not cheap, and not really very good food, but fun place) would be to take the lunch train from the strasburg railroad. Food will probably be pbj for kids, but it%26#39;s fun to ride the train while eating lunch. One other place to try is the Oregan Buffet. YOu can do their buffet, or order off the menu, which leads me to believe they must have a childrens menu. I believe Iassacs near traintown (strasburg) also has a kids menu. I%26#39;m sure others will be along with some more ideas.

Dining Suggestions for picky 3 1/2 year olds

Thanks MittMott.

The phrase ';fine dining'; is no longer in our vocabulary, at least when our kids are around. I actually looked into Isaacs last year but we never made it there. I forgot about it and just looked at the website and I think that we might have to try it.

My daughter is 4 and pretty picky. Some of the places I can take her without much problem are (in no particular order - just off the top of my head)

Lyndon Diner on Manheim Pike

Olive Garden - Park View Plaza, across from Park City Mall (Harrisburg Pike)

Zia Maria - N. Reading Road in Denver PA

Oregon Dairy - Oregon Pike (bonus, it has a playground)

T. Burk - Old Phila. Pike (small but friendly)

The Pressroom - King St, downtown (brick-oven %26#39;gourmet%26#39; type pizzas, some kids might not like)

Willow Valley - buffet is expensive (find a coupon) but something for everyone

Bob Evans - I hate the place but my daughter loves it. There are a couple locations in the area.

There are more, I am drawing a blank now though.

Shady Maple %26amp; Bird-In-Hand are decent buffets, but they can get VERY crowded (my daughter isn%26#39;t so patient standing in a long line).

Good luck!

Enjoy

There is also an Olive Garden at the corner of routes 30 %26amp; 896 now. Also, Ruby Tuesdays is right there, and if you head from the outlets into Strasburg on 896 there is an ice cream/burger place on the right that is good.

I remember those days with small children who were picky eaters! I know you said you were trying to avoid the pizza thing; however, if you have to break down to satisfy the little ones, I%26#39;d recommend Cici%26#39;s Pizza Buffet in the Target shopping center on Route 30 near the Rockvale Outlets. We ate there recently and enjoyed it. There are like 20 types of pizza, pasta with marinara or cheese sauce, a salad bar, and desserts. It is inexpensive but good food.

Thanks. Cicis and Olive Garden both look like good choices.

Still wondering if anyone has anything good (or bad) to say about Bird In Hand Family Restaurant.

Haven%26#39;t eaten at Bird in Hand Restaurant recently enough to comment, but I would highly recommend one of Isaac%26#39;s many locations. Their food is very good--tends to be on the lighter side--sandwiches, salads, etc. I noticed your son enjoys soft pretzels, and they have some sandwiches on their menu made using soft pretzels. Their menu is quirky and appealing to the young. You will find a location in nearby Strasburg. Other locations can be found on their website, as well as a menu for perusal.

See www.isaacsdeli.com

Also, there is a kids%26#39; menu featured on the website!

BIH is your typical buffet...very similar to the buffet at Willow Valley.

I didn%26#39;t think either one was anything special but you can find something for the kids at either one (pizza, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets)

Both places have playgrounds for after diner and BIH has minigolf too!

pimple cure

Woodloch in the summer - accomodations

We are considering going to Woodloch in August. Our kids are 7 %26amp; 10. We are unsure about the accomodations of Classic standard, deluxe lakeview or edgewater suites. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Woodloch in the summer - accomodations

Hi, nj rx--The classic standard rooms are set up in blocks of 6-8 rooms per building, and have two double beds and a pullout couch in each. The buildings are located near to, but not attached to the main lodge. The deluxe lakeview rooms are larger than the standard, and also have two double beds, a pullout couch (actually a love seat) and one bathroom, also, these rooms have a balcony overlooking the lake. These rooms are in the main lodge building, which has the main dining room, the north lodge and night club (this building is where most of the indoor activities take place). There is also a video game room in this building (if your kids are interested.) Across from the night club is another larger game room, with video games, pool tables, ping pong tables on one floor, and an indoor basketball/sport court on the second floor. Edgewater suites are in another buiding a short walk or bus ride from the main lodge. These rooms consist of two rooms, one with a large sitting area with two full-size couches (one is a pull-out), small dining area, butler%26#39;s pantry set-up (sink, refrigerator, coffee maker), and the other room has two queen-sized beds, both rooms have t.v.%26#39;s. These rooms also offer two full baths, one with a stall shower, the other with a tub-shower combo. These rooms have lake-front balconies as well. The indoor/outdoor pools, and gym are in this building. There are also Mountain Laurel rooms, which are even bigger than the Edgewater Suites, which contain full kitchens, if you are interested in those, but, you must pay four full adult rates if your family wants to stay there.

When are you planning on going in August? We have been going in August for about 18 years now. Any other questions, feel free to ask.

Hope this helps!

Woodloch in the summer - accomodations

We have stayed in Greenbriar for the last 20 years. That%26#39;s attached to the main dining room and nightclub. We love it, and over the years it has held anywhere from two adults to four adults and 3 children.

Our room (yes, we%26#39;ve been in the exact same room for years!) has two sinks, one in the changing area/closet, and one in the bathroom, which is great for when two people are getting ready for dinner at the same time.

Have fun!

Woodloch Pines

Does anyone know what happened to Jimbo? Can you PM me?

In town for Steelers Game Nov 20

Some friends and I are flying into Pittsburgh to watch the Steelers game that night (Thursday). We are flying in that afternoon (4pm) and kickoff is at 8pm. We haven%26#39;t booked a hotel yet, but will likely book something downtown as near Heinz Field as possible.

I am wondering if you would recommend us renting a car and driving in from the airport to the hotel (or directly to the game), or would a cab/shuttle be a better option? There are 5 in our group, but none of us are very familiar with the Pittsburgh area, and are unsure of what traffic/parking will be like.Are we pushing our luck by flying in at 4pm for an 8pm kickoff?? We are only there for the one night (we%26#39;re flying out to Montreal the next day to catch the Grey Cup in Montreal), so we probably won%26#39;t use the car for much more then going back and forth between the airport and hotel (unless there is a ';must see if your in Pittsburgh for only one night'; kind of place that isn%26#39;t within walking distance).

We would probably look to go out to a pub or sports bar kind of place. Are there any places that would be near Heinze field?

Thanks.

In town for Steelers Game Nov 20

I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;d be worth it to rent a car or not. The travel from the airport to Pittsburgh isn%26#39;t bad, but then again it%26#39;ll be rush hour on a Thursday (although, you are going into town when many others will be heading out). Parking is horrible, but if you stay in one of the hotels near by, I%26#39;m sure they would have parking for you.

There is a bus that runs from the airport downtown called the airport flyer, I%26#39;d check into that to see how much it is. It may actually be cheaper to rent a car than pay for 5 bus tickets downtown then back to the airport.

I don%26#39;t know for sure, but I doubt most downtown hotels provide a shuttle to the airport. You could check their sites to make sure, but my guess would be no.

Any hotel in downtown would be pretty close to Heinz Field. The closest is the Springhill Suites. A friend of mine stayed there a couple weeks ago and paid between 150-200(forget what he said exactly) and it was 18 to park. The second closest would be the Renaissance. The other hotels you could walk or taxi to the field, but I%26#39;d look at those two first.

As for nightlife, there is a nightclub/bar McFadden%26#39;s right beside PNC Park (a couple blocks from Heinz) and Jerome Bettis has a restaurant/bar right beside Heinz.

Check out all your options, but I would probably look into renting a car and staying at the Springhill Suites. Then, after the game, heading to one of McFaddens or Bettis%26#39; for a few drinks (I would say McFaddens would probably be more of a fun atmosphere). It%26#39;ll be an easy drunken walk back to the hotel.

In town for Steelers Game Nov 20

You are pushing it a bit by arriving at 4...not that you won%26#39;t make kickoff but traffic is a nightmare for Steelers weekday night games. Given that you%26#39;re not going to use a car to go anywhere but back and forth, I would opt for a cab (it will be expensive) or the Airport Flyer. Here is the Port Authority (bus) web site. http://www.portauthority.org/paac/

One thing I would do is leave a lot of time to get back to the airport. It is always packed the day after Steeler games. Good luck! Steeler games tend to be a ';critical mass'; time in Pittsburgh so you need to plan for that. I would also make your hotel reservation quickly. (And there are plenty of bars between Heinz Field and PNC Park)

I%26#39;d also vote against renting a car, unless you find an amazing deal. Factoring in cost and aggravation of driving during peak traffic in an unfamiliar city, cab or shuttle is probably the best bet.

Last time we were in for a Steelers game we stayed at the Quality Suites in Green Tree. Not spectacular, but good and with big rooms. They had a free shuttle van to take guests to the Steelers game, and it was much cheaper than the downtown or North Shore hotels.

I would get a shuttle from the airport and stay at the Springhill Suites-North Shore it is a beautiful hotel and in walking distance to Heinz field. If you are only going to be here for the one night there is really no need for a car cause you can just get a shuttle back to the airport in the am. As far as night life you have a few options right around Heinz Field as previously suggested I would go to McFadden%26#39;s or Bettis place. Again no need for a car you can walk to Heinz Field from the Springhill Suites and there are bars and restaurants right there as well. Have Fun!!! Pittsburgh is a GREAT city!!!!!!

If it were my 1st time to Pittsburgh, I%26#39;d want to enter the city thru the tunnels with someone else driving. It is one of the most wonderful sights for native Pittsburghers and I%26#39;m sure for many visitors. I%26#39;d suggest either a taxi or even a limo from the airport (more room in a limo for 5 of you). Check out www.pitairport.com for listing of transportation companies with phone numbers. I don%26#39;t think any of them have website links :(. Have fun - and don%26#39;t forget to bring your TERRIBLE TOWEL!

I would take the airport flyer bus 28X only a couple bucks one way...stay somewhere either downtown or the north shore...there is spring hill suites like mentioned earlier....hilton downtown...sheraton in station square.....

1 Day/Night, What area should we stay in?

My husband and I are driving through Pittsburgh the first week of September and plan to check out the town for one day/night. We also will be going to the airport at night to pick up my brother-in-law.

I need some help on where to stay. What part of town? Should we just stay near the airport to save some money, or is it worth to stay in the city? What area?

We plan on doing the incline during the day, but anything else? Thanks in advance

1 Day/Night, What area should we stay in?

Since you need to be at the airport at night, I suggest staying in that area. It%26#39;s a short trip into the city and parking is pretty plentiful across from Station Square where the Mon Incline comes off the hill.

1 Day/Night, What area should we stay in?

Yea I concur....stay near the airport...drive into the city u can park at station square for either incline..

Cheap Parking Downtown?

I am driving down from Detroit and last year I got the pleasant surprise of $25 per night for parking.

Are there any hotels or public lots that charge less than $15 per night?

Thanks.

Cheap Parking Downtown?

I think most of the lots are owned by the city and are all the same price. Unless you find one of the tiny off street lots that are scattered around - some of them might be cheaper than the larger lots, but maybe not as safe.

When we go downtown for an overnight, we just bite the bullet and pay for the valet parking at the hotel.

Cheap Parking Downtown?

Anyone know the price of the garage across the river from PNC Park? I know that a few years ago it used to be pretty cheap to park for ballgames, although, I don%26#39;t know about their overnight rates or their current ballgame rates. Sorry, I know it%26#39;s not much help, just trying to think of something.

The garage at Ninth and Penn has a 24 hour rate of $9.75. Check the Pittsburgh Parking Authority web site for other rates.

…pittsburgh.pa.us/pghparkingauthority/html/n…

Where are you staying? If you are staying at one of the hotels near the convention center, you could park in one of the lots on Smallman Street near the Science Center. They run from $5 (the lot near Wholey%26#39;s) and up. It%26#39;s a bit of a walk, but if you want to save money, it%26#39;s worth looking into.

I am staying at an undecided hotel downtown the first night and then in station square after that. i don%26#39;t need to be super close to the lot, i can always cab it back if i get a good overnight deal.

i%26#39;ll definitely check out the 9th and penn garage, thanks.

Sleepybeth, I think you meant the Heinz History Center - not the Science Center.

Thanks for the correction - I definitely meant the History Center, not the Science center.

Also consider the First Avenue Garage. Roughly $9/day. It%26#39;s Downtown, slightly out of the way, but it has a T Stop (the underground trolley) that can take you back to the Downtown hotel area for free, or you can ride across the river to Station Square for $2.

There is a little secret I will let you in on....Park at the Wabash Tunnel parking lot near station square....for FREE...parking is not enforced there are cameras so it is a safe area and it is regulary patrolled...don%26#39;t ask me how I know...I just do. Take the T across the river to downtown or walk....

Public Transport and Taxi at Horsham, PA

What is the fastest bus or train to New York City from Horsham (or nearby town like Willow Grove)Willow Grove)?

Any Taxi (to nearby train/bus station)around Horsham area on-call at early morning ~6-7am?

Public Transport and Taxi at Horsham, PA

You can take a Greyhound/Capitol Trailways bus from Willow Grove to NYC. 1 hour 40 minutes, though I find that hard to believe. Here is a link to the schedule:

http://www.capitoltrailways.com/default.html

Public Transport and Taxi at Horsham, PA

I believe that the Trans-Bridge bus line may also run a bus to NYC from the Doylestown train station, which would be a 15-minute taxi ride from the Horsham area. Or, you could take the Septa bus that runs straight up Easton Road (Rt. 611) from Horsham to Doylestown. Get off at the stop near the CVS (on the left) and walk a block up to the train station. Not sure how early in the a.m. that Septa bus runs, though.

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Good Hotel in Mount Airy or Chestnut Hill?

Hi all,

Does anyone have a good hotel to recommend that%26#39;s in/near Mount Airy or Chestnut Hill?

Thanks!

Good Hotel in Mount Airy or Chestnut Hill?

I wouldn%26#39;t suggest any in that area. Where do you need to be close to?

Good Hotel in Mount Airy or Chestnut Hill?

There is the Chestnut Hill hotel however I don%26#39;t think it is recommended. Another option is to stay in Center City and you can easily get a train to Chestnut Hill. Finally, you could check into the possibility of B%26amp;Bs.

bnbphiladelphia.com/philadelphia/chestnut-hi…

Donekers question

Just curious...I read on another forum that Doneckers is closing down entirely? Is this true? I%26#39;ve stayed there a few times in the past for business meetings and really enjoyed the restaurant and the stores. Any information on what is happening there?

Thanks.

Donekers question

Intelligence Journal newspaper out of Lancaster reports in its June 17 edition that the company is remaining tightlipped about its business. It has, however dropped dinner at its restaurant and is running a retail ';clearance'; that appears to be a liquidation. Restaurant will stop serving altogether at end of month. The article says that workers werd hired to carry placards advertising the sale of furniture and clothing along Route 322--not exactly in harmony with their highend merchandise!

A respondent to the article incicated that the restaurant, at least, is offered for sale in real estate releases. Asking price is $1,300,000, should you have interest! Another indication of the deep economic woes in our country!!

Donekers question

Yes Doneckers is in the stages of closing down, I have a friend from culinary school who was one of their chef and he is in the process of finding himself a new job

Does this mean the entire complex is closing? What about the Inn portion, is that closing as well? The only thing the website indicates is that they are having a big furniture sale.

The restautrant is already closed...

no formal announcement about the remainder of Doneckers businesses but if you have wanted to revisit the stores now would be a good time.

It%26#39;s official...

the clothing stores are closing also.

This is a real blow to Ephrata. Any town this size would be very fortunate to have an upscale, traffic producing specialty retailer such as Donecker%26#39;s, and their departure will surely impact the remaining modest business district.

I suppose in today%26#39;s marketing trends it%26#39;s just hard for an enterprise like Donecker%26#39;s to survive outside a major metro area.

Sadly, Ephrata is a different town these days.

Donnekers was always upscale with it%26#39;s clothing

line. I think they would have faired better had

they relocated more towards the Philly area.

I was there to shop a week or two ago and there wasn%26#39;t much left. I loved shopping there and will miss it. I did find that they did not have things marked down as advertised - 40 to 60% off. The better items were only 30% off. A real deal was Brighton handbags for 40% off! Some of the salesladies were very nice and helpful, others acted like you were a nuisance for shopping there, I found throughout the years.

Hi. Need some hotel help please...

Hi. I asked some questions last week that you all were so helpful in answering so now I%26#39;m back, lol. I%26#39;m planning a trip next Mon-Wed for my family. Last year we were able to Hotwire the Hyatt at penn%26#39;s Landing for a great price. I thought it was a pretty great location. I%26#39;m wondering if we should stick to that general area or maybe try to stay by Rittenhouse Sq as someone suggested. The things we will be doing are the zoo, the aquarium, Franklin Science Museum, Maybe the Ducks again(7 year old loved it!)maybe the Seaport Museum. I%26#39;ve been checking Hotwire and what I think is the Sheraton Society Hill is available but there is also a 3 1/2 star in Center City East. Anyone have any thoughts? I don%26#39;t have to use Hotwire but if I can save a few bucks I%26#39;d like to. The dates are 8/25-8/27 for people. Thanks in adfor any helpful hints.

Hi. Need some hotel help please...

I know some one that just hotwired the center city east and wound up with the sheraton with mixed reviews.

We hotwired last year for the Penns landing area and went to the Hyatt...loved it.

I have also stayed at the Mariott, Hampton inn, and Hawthorne Suites...all in the same area near the Reading Terminal Market. The area is okay, but I liked the Penn%26#39;s Landing with the 20 something floor view of the river and the bridge. I also liked the self park. We waited for almost an hour at the Hampton Inn for our car...then my husband got it out of the valet lot himself!!!!!!!

We so much preferred the penn%26#39;s landing area. Even if you get the Sheraton there it is right across the street. The reviews are still pretty good...I think better than the center city one.

To us, everything in Philly is fairly close. Much closer than things in Manhattan. We have always been lucky with parking in Philly...never a problem. I would go with Hotwire, save a few bucks, eat a few more cheesesteaks and be happy!

Hi. Need some hotel help please...

Hi -

I looked on Hotwire for your dates, here are the options I saw:

3* Center City West for $77/night - most likely the Windsor but could also be the Embassy Suites

3* CC East for $90/night - most likely the Crowne Plaza but don%26#39;t rule out the Hilton Garden Inn or the Doubletree

3.5* Olde Town/Penn%26#39;s Landing for $117/night - Sheraton Society Hill

3.5* Center City East for $117/night - most likely the Radisson Warwick

I%26#39;d go with the Sheraton Society Hill, just for the fact that the location is stellar and it has an indoor pool, which is a nice amenity with a 7 year old.

Hope that helps, good luck, let us know if you have additional questions.

Suzanne

Thanks for thr speedy replies! I think I will go with the Sheraton-we%26#39;re not too picky as long as it%26#39;s clean, we%26#39;re good, lol. I think I better book it-it keeps going up! I just hate that it%26#39;s non-refundable, you know how it is with young kids. I also was thinking of getting a Philadelphia Pass-it would be $272 for all 5 of us for 2 days. It includes pretty much everything we want to do except the aquarium. Any thoughts on tht? It seems like a no-brainer but maybe I%26#39;m missing something. Thanks guys-now I know why it%26#39;s the City of Brotherly Love;)

As far as the value for Philadelphia Pass it depends on how many attractions you are actually going to.

One thing you may want to ask about if you are going to the Franklin Institute is whether the Philadelphia Pass gives you entrance to the IMAX and Pirates Exhibit. Here is a link to the regular entrance prices for the FI

http://www2.fi.edu/visitor-guide/pricing.php

not sure where you on on LI, but if you buy a membership to the children%26#39;s museum in Garden City, at a certain level, I believe the grandparent level, you will get admission to the franklin institute and another science museum in Philly. Take a look at their website. We used it last year and it was great. There are museums all over the country that accept it. It may be worth it for you.

Nice place to stay during our visit

We will be visiting our daughter who lives in the Shadyside area of the city. She and her husband (a resident at U of Pitt) will be working some of the time we will be there. We would like to stay within 15-20 minutes from them at something like a Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express because they offer a nice hot breakfast and will not break our budget like the Marriott in Shadyside. We will eat lunch and supper with my daughter. Does anyone have suggestions for a nice area and nice hotel? We will rent a car to travel between airport, hotel and daughter%26#39;s apartment. This is our first time to visit my daughter. Thanks in advance for any help.

Nice place to stay during our visit

Not sure what the cost is at Shadyside Inn but it gets generally good reviews here and you would be able to walk to the Shadyside neighborhood with restaurants and shops.

Or you could try the new Hampton Inn in the Strip (downtown). It%26#39;s getting rave reviews here and you could walk to the Strip District or Downtown to eat. I wouldn%26#39;t call it a ';nice'; neighborhood exactly, it%26#39;s very urban, but it%26#39;s safe and outside of rush hour you could be in Oakland or Shadyside within 15-20 minutes.

Good luck!

Nice place to stay during our visit

Right near the university....a good choice of food and drink nearby...minutes to downtown...have fun!!!

http://www.pittsburghhamptoninn.com/

CeCe,

I would check out the new Hampton Inn or even the Westin. The rooms are very nice and spacious and within walking distance of many nice restaurants and shopping centers.

Romantic Restaurant before Spamalot?

Hi everybody,

Last year we had dinner at XIX and loved it when we went to see Wicked. Would like to try something different this year.

We like romantic and quirky, and good food obviously. Anything nearby that you would recommend?

Thanks

Romantic Restaurant before Spamalot?

you could try either of the Varalli, located at broad and locust (http://www.varalliusa.com/)

very good food at both

Hope this helps

Romantic Restaurant before Spamalot?

Thanks Mike.

It looks pretty good from the website. We%26#39;ll give it a try.

We had an excellent meal at Bliss and I%26#39;m eager to try 6 Arts.

Lynn

Bliss is closed on Sunday or that would have been our first choice.

We ended up at XIX again, only because we had an excellent meal last year there.

But wished after we had tried Mike%26#39;s suggestion.

They took our reservation on the phone no problem but when we arrived, found that the main dining room was closed on Sunday and were seated in the more casual dining area, where given a light fare menu which was not what we had wanted.

I feel we should have been told this on the phone when we made the reservation, as we would have made a different choice.

The food was pretty good not great, like last year.

Daffy2,

Sorry to hear things did not work out for you. I would recommend that you keep the varalli%26#39;s on you list for the future as they are both very good and the veiw from upstairs is quite nice.

But I would also recommend Bliss as an option for the future as well

Hope you enjoy these when you get around to trying them

Ernesto%26#39;s (small, classy, moderately priced Italian restaurant) is another good option.

Lynn

Thanks all

We usually go to the theater once a year and next year, I%26#39;m taking your suggestions.

you may want to check out 10 Arts, in the Ritz Carlton. I haven%26#39;t been yet, but Eric Ripert can do no wrong in my book. I would say the price would be comparable to XIX (Nineteen).

http://10arts.com/

Or, Parc , in Rittenhouse Square. It also tops my list of places I am dying to go to. Don%26#39;t know much, but it%26#39;s a Stephen Starr restaurant which means you will get fun %26amp; quirky, but you%26#39;ll also get a good meal and good service.

Where NOT to stay in Lancaster,Pa.

On a recent trip to Lancaster Country, we chose a motel that was pet freindly. WRONG move. It wasn%26#39;t even people freindly. We checked in and out within twenty minutes. If you look at the padutchcountry.com website you will see a nice room and write0up about it. The picture is not what you get.The Bates Motel would have been better. This place is the Paradise Motor Lodge, Route 30, Paradise,Pa..AVOID IT!

While I was walking our dog, my wife was in the room with the owner. After she left we took a closer look at the room we noticed that the sheets were not changed, we found HAIR on the pillows. That was enough. As my wife stood there in tears, I called a Comfort Inn that we passed on the way in on Route 23 in New Holland. I told them the situation we were in and that we had our son and daughter-in-law joining us, plus our dog. She asked when I needed the room , I said NOW. They had a beautiful room with a great rate and pet freindly. Now this was on a Friday afternoon and we got a room. When you come to Lancaster County check out the motels carefully and IF you are not sure about a place, call the Visitors Center. That%26#39;s what they are there for. To help you have any enjoyable and memorable stay and so that you would want to return.

We live in New Jersey and go often and have learned a lesson about checking out your choices of where to stay.

ENJOY!

Where NOT to stay in Lancaster,Pa.

Another hotel to avoid at all costs is the Days Inn on Keller Avenue. How this place is allowed to stay open (and remain a Days Inn) is beyond me. The hotel is not in the best section of town and there seems to be a lot of criminal activity at the hotel over the past year. Last summer there was a major drug bust at the hotel. So far this year there has been a triple shooting at the hotel%26#39;s bar, several guests of a room robbed and beaten, a robbery, and I cannot say that I am any bit surprised that this hotel has been rated the 8th worst hotel in America by Trip Advisor. From what I understand the property is very rundown and poorly maintained. I have never been in the hotel (or ever care to stay there), so I cannot comment on its cleanliness. Several reviewers have mentioned that the outdoor pool is green and algae can be seen growing in it. Other things that I have heard that really concern me are that some of the exterior corridor rooms%26#39; doors do not lock and that the hallway doors are often propped open (if the area isn%26#39;t scary enough!). My guess is that the people who frequent this hotel are criminals, such as drug dealers and prostitutes, and guests who don%26#39;t know how bad this hotel really is (or mistake it for the Days Inn in Ronks). My intention is not to bash this hotel but to make others aware that this hotel is very unsatisfactory and unsafe so that they can save themselves a headache as well as money (I hear they don%26#39;t give refunds). If you have questions about lodging, dining, or area attractions, I will be more than happy to answer them.

Where NOT to stay in Lancaster,Pa.

I am pleased to reply to this posting. We stayed at the Paradise Motor Lodge on a recent Saturday night in October. It was a desperate move on our part. There was truly nothing else available on that night and we were too tired to drive on. We SHOULD HAVE SLEPT IN OUR CAR! This place was dark and dirty, really dirty. The rug was so bad that we kept our shoes on except when we got into bed. The shower was full of soap scum. The room was just gross. The owner was quite chatty and didn%26#39;t seem phased by the filthy rooms she was renting. Also, the room was by no means inexpensive.

I agree with %26#39;Where NOT to stay in Lancaster,Pa%26#39;. This was one of the worst places I have ever stayed. Lancaster is such a lovely place. PML is a blight on this picturesque countryside.

Its ALWAYS a good idea to see the reviews of the motels/hotels before you stay in them. From past experience I will not stay in any place under 3.5 rating, ideally 4.0 %26amp; up. I have stayed in really nice places that deserved better ratings but some people really pick apart places. If the majority of people complain about a certain thing than stay away from the place.

We stayed in the Ronks Days Inn (Routes 896 %26amp; 30) last fall. It was the closest, available motel to our hot air balloon launch site in Strasburg. We were not pleased with the motel. There was no elevator to our second floor room (we have a son in a wheelchair), the carpet was loose in the stairwell and hallway and they had no milk for the continental breakfast. Must be normal operating procedures for all Days Inns. Even the one we stayed at off of I-80 near Bloomsburg was bad. I suggest staying at any of the rooms available in Intercourse at the Kitchen Kettle Village. Beautiful, clean and well decorated. Plus, you get a free breakfast at the Kling House restaurant.

To MDtraveler51, sorry you got stuck at Paradise Motel. I must tell you we took action with this place. We tried,but unsuccsefully, to get a full refund from our credit card company. We did get some money back.

On my return home I called the Lancaster Health Dept.,the Lancaster Visitors Bureau and the Better Business Bureau. The board of health check out the place and said they would be back to follow up.On their return they were asked if they had a warrant to inspect the place! A WARRANT, do you beleive the nerve of some people. I told the visitors center, that the Paradise Lodge does NOT represent Lancaster County at all. Due to my complaint,they plan on useing a star rating. I think the PML%26#39;s star burned out. By the way, did you happen to notice the phone book out side? Looked like it was there for years.

I still feel that I%26#39;m not done with this place. I know people will say it%26#39;s over, let it go, BUT how about the next couple coming down the pike? Should others be subjected to this filthy place?

I%26#39;ve heard a lot of very negative things about the Days Inn near the Amtrak stations and wasn%26#39;t surprised to find out that as of this week, the hotel is no longer part of the Days Inn chain. The hotel has been named one of the top 10 dirtiest hotels in America two years in a row now and has been the site of much criminal activity over the past couple of years(a major drug bust, several robberies, a shooting outside the hotel%26#39;s bar, and probably many other things). I don%26#39;t want to spread a rumor but I can%26#39;t help notice that when you check availability through the hotel%26#39;s website, they are only taking reservations until May 18, 2008. I hope (and probably so do the Manheim Township police) that this means that the hotel is closing as it is certainly an eyesore to the community and I feel that no one deserves to stay at such an unsafe, unclean, and poorly managed hotel that is notoriously bad. There are plenty of other choices. If you need help finding a place to stay in the area, feel free to contact the visitors bureau (they know which hotels not to stay at as well as which ones are nice) or you can always ask on these forums.

Wow I am so glad i read this we almost booked our trip there!!! But went the B%26amp;B route instead. WE will be going for the first time in july.

mamateresa2006,I%26#39;m glad you saw my post. If it saves even one person from the aggrivation we went through,it was worth posting. You should ride past the place and you%26#39;ll see some of what I%26#39;m talking about.To update the old saying,';let the vacationer beware.'; Have a safe trip and enjoy.

God Bless, popc

NEVER go to Cherry Lane Motor Inn in Ronks on Ronks RD. That place should really be bulldoxed down. The smell was horrible. There was no know on the AC unit so I had to get a pliers from the office and stand on a chair to adjust the temp. The beds were like slepping on a slab of cement. The wallpaper was falling off the walls. Black mold was on the windows. Popcorn was underneath the bed. Draperies were so dusty that anytime I opened them I had to wash my hands. Mattress was comming apart at the seams. Very dark interior. No blow dryer or shampoo. Very, very old motel that really hasn%26#39;t had any updating in about 35 years or longer. Took the AC cover off to clean the air filter and inside the unit there were so many live spiders and cobwebs that I just put the cover back on and figured it wouldn%26#39;t help anything at all. Dustiest place I ever went to in my life.

Oh that is terrible.....we were going to go to lancaster county this month but ended up canceling ....good to know for next time.

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Help with restaurant name

Looking to see if anyone knows the name of a restaurant we ate at a few years ago. It%26#39;s not to far from the sovereign center and I believe it%26#39;s across the river. It is an Italian place, fairly large and offers tappas food. It%26#39;s located to the front of a large building.(other buisnesses in back of building). I beleive there is a wendy%26#39;s or other fastfood place up the hill across the road from it. It was a place we ate at one night when we were there for a concert. We are comming back for another concert and was trying to find the name of the place so we could get directions to it. I think it has kind of a weird name, but I could be wrong on that. Any suggestions would be great.

Help with restaurant name

I think it might be Viva Good Life across from the Vanity Fair Outlet - Website will give you directions, etc. if it%26#39;s the place you are looking for.

http://www.vivaeurofusion.com/

Help with restaurant name

Be aware that if it is indeed Viva, it%26#39;s currently closed because of the construction going on adjacent to it for the new Doubletree hotel going up. I%26#39;m not sure the timeline of the concert you%26#39;re seeing is, but it seems to be closed for the very immediate future.

Yes Viva is closed at least through Sept. 13, probably longer. Look on their website.

Other places to look into in that area (Wyomissing or in West Reading which is between Reading %26amp; Wyomissing) would be The West Reading Tavern, GNA Pizzeria Restaurant, Mom Chaffe%26#39;s (more expensive), 3rd %26amp; Spruce (it%26#39;s a bar), Chef Alan%26#39;s. Google these and get as much info as you can.

Downtown tours

I heard some where that tours are given in the downtown area as well as the battlefield. We are taking a 3 hr. guided battlefield tour and would like to know if anyone has an opinion of taking the downtown tour. We are not in to ghost or shopping tours - just history tours. Thanks.

Downtown tours

Hi ChannelCat

Town tours are available but being local I have never been on one; thus I have no opinion. I have enclosed a link to their WEB site.

http://www.gettysburgpa.org/guidedtour.htm

You can’t go wrong on the guided battlefield tours; totally excellent! You are very wise to avoid the utterly ridicules ghost tours which are nothing but total garbage.

Best Wishes,

BigWoody

Downtown tours

I did the downtown tour and loved it. I was the only person on the tour and got very good service. I went with the one at the following link http://www.gettysburgpa.org/guidedtour.htm. You start at a hotel in town and get a great idea of what it must have been like to live in Gettysburg during and after the battle.